We invest in people, not pitches.
At the earliest stages, talent is the only variable that compounds. We've spent 25 years learning to spot it.
how we invest
We lead and co-lead pre-seed and seed rounds. We co-invest at Series A. We take active roles. We stay close long after the check clears.
We focus where technical depth and data-driven moats meet real market timing: AI Infrastructure, Agents, and Verticals; Space and Defense; Robotics; and Spatial.
NYC, SF, and LA are our priority markets. Wherever a founder builds, they get our NYC playbook: grit, commercial discipline, and industry depth that translates into any market they need to sell into.
ASK OUR FOUNDERS
Having Oceans as a lead is like having a **high-functioning co-founder**. The level of engagement and authentic, intimate, no-BS conversations about the business is something I don't believe can be expected from large multi-stage firms. It's why we chose Oceans to lead our pre-seed. The team has certainly not disappointed.
Oceans is **always one late-night call or text away** from helping us close the best talent or getting us in the room with our top customers. We're incredibly grateful for Oceans' support and are excited to work with them for the long run.
You know **investors are only supposed to say they add value, not actually do it.** You're ruining the narrative for the rest of your industry…
We went with Oceans because of the team and relationship. Relationships matter. **Oceans GPs are the type of people you hang onto for life.** We had several big-name investors that wanted to invest, but our relationship with the team and their persistence in closing were difference makers. I wanted to be a part of their growth story as well.
We chose Oceans as lead because **they are experienced startup builders and are able to provide hands-on support**. During the fundraise, Oceans stood out from other VCs — they moved quickly and understood how to build a business. The Oceans team will help you build the best company you can.
With Oceans, we have access to **tailored advice and hands-on help that is always just right** for the stage that we are at. I have never felt like I'm just a number. I get almost immediate responses to my updates. I really feel like Oceans understands where we are at and our business.
This was the easiest decision I've ever made on picking an investor. From Steven, Josh on through the team - this a crew you want in your corner. Sharp, action oriented, get founders and understand what it takes to build a company. **They aren't performative, they know how to be helpful because they've been there**.
WHERE WE GO TO WORK
PEOPLE
Your first hires set culture, velocity, and trajectory. We've made zero-to-one hires for 25 years: internet, mobile, social, AI. We help you source, interview, and close the people other founders are chasing.
GO TO MARKET
Product-market fit isn't a slide. We help you find it, pressure-test it, and build a sales motion repeatable enough to hire against and defensible enough to raise on.
Capital
Fundraising strategy, deal structure, runway modeling, board prep: the CFO work you need before you can afford a CFO.
The founders we Back
The
Repeat Founder
With multiple exits behind them, they know what bad VC looks like because they've lived it. What they want is a sparring partner who picks up the phone when it matters.
The Pedigreed First-Timer
DARPA. SpaceX. DoorDash. Years inside world-class organizations working on a problem no one else was solving. A decision to go build it themselves.
The frontier Builder
Twenty-two and challenging NVIDIA. Grew up with the tools the rest of us are still learning. Working in white space, where consensus hasn't formed yet. They need investors who take the tech seriously, and operators to help build the company around it.
One thing in common — they have to build.
